The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and Multiple Myeloma
Research Consortium (MMRC) to Present 11 Oral or Poster Sessions at the
54th Annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting

NORWALK, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and their affiliate
organization and clinical research network the Multiple Myeloma Research
Consortium (MMRC) today announced that 11 abstracts from its research
and development collaborations with academia and industry have been
accepted for oral and poster presentations at the 54th Annual
American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition to be
held December 8 - 11, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia.

“The data presented at ASH span research programs with the most
incredible potential for next-generation treatments for this devastating
disease, and demonstrate the incredible power that innovative
partnerships can have in advancing research”

In a poster presentation, the MMRF will highlight key elements of the
design of its landmark CoMMpass(SM) (Relating Clinical
Outcomes in Multiple
Myeloma to Personal
Assessment
of Genetic Profile) study, which is collecting cutting-edge,
comprehensive clinical information and molecular profiling of 1,000
newly diagnosed patients over a minimum of five years. CoMMpass will
provide researchers insight into patients’ disease progression and their
responsiveness to specific treatment regimens, thereby characterizing
the subtypes of multiple myeloma and enabling individualized treatment
approaches. The study has enrolled over 280 patients since opening in
July 2011 and includes 55 participating sites in the US.

Additionally, MMRC partners at Washington University School of Medicine
in St. Louis will be presenting data analyzed from the MMRF Multiple
Myeloma Genomics Initiative (MMGI), a program that comprises several
research and discovery efforts spanning the spectrum of genome science,
including whole genome and whole exome sequencing and involving the
analysis of tumor and normal patient samples from the MMRC Tissue Bank.
Data that will be presented at this meeting were accessed from the
Multiple Myeloma Genomics Portal (www.myelomagenomics.org),
a publicly shared database from the MMGI and other multiple myeloma
research initiatives.

The other nine presentations include data from multiple myeloma trials
conducted within the MMRC network in patients with relapsed and/or
refractory multiple myeloma. Among these MMRC presentations, six will
focus on data from studies of pomalidomide (currently under review by
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) in combination with low-dose
dexamethasone. These data include updated Phase II results in patients
who were previously treated with lenalidomide and bortezomib; results
from a Phase I dose-escalating study of the combination of pomalidomide,
bortezomib and low-dose dexamethasone; treatment outcomes in patients
with specific cytogenetic abnormalities; the impact of renal function on
patient outcomes; improvements in clinical benefit parameters in a Phase
II study; and outcomes based on prior treatment exposure.

Also being presented are results from a Phase I study of an Aurora
Kinase inhibitor in combination with bortezimib, a Phase I/II study of
bendamustine in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, and a
Phase I dose-escalating study of an oral dual TORC 1/2 inhibitor.

“The data presented at ASH span research programs with the most
incredible potential for next-generation treatments for this devastating
disease, and demonstrate the incredible power that innovative
partnerships can have in advancing research,” stated Michael N. Needle,
M.D., Chief Medical Officer of the MMRF and MMRC. “This has been a
pivotal year for accomplishments in multiple myeloma research,
development and treatment options, including the first FDA approval of a
multiple myeloma treatment in five years, and we look forward to our
continued work with our dedicated partners to rapidly advance innovative
treatment approaches and options for patients.”

MMRC presentations at ASH will include:

Abstract #:

1859

TITLE:

Phase I Study of Aurora Kinase Inhibitor MLN8237 and Bortezomib in
Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Pomalidomide (POM) with Low-Dose Dexamethasone (LoDex) in Patients
(Pts) with Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma Who Have
Received Prior Therapy with Lenalidomide (LEN) and Bortezomib
(BORT): Updated Phase II Results and Age Subgroup Analysis

MM-005: A Phase I, Multicenter, Open-Label, Dose-Escalation Study
to Determine the Maximum Tolerated Dose for the Combination of
Pomalidomide, Bortezomib, and Low-Dose Dexamethasone in Subjects
with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Treatment Outcomes with Pomalidomide (POM) in Combination with
Low-Dose Dexamethasone (LoDex) in Patients with Relapsed and
Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM) and Del(17p13) and/or
t(4;14)(p16;q32) Cytogenetic Abnormalities Who Have Received Prior
Therapy with Lenalidomide (LEN) and Bortezomib (BORT)

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation was established in 1998 as a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization by twin sisters Karen Andrews and
Kathy Giusti, soon after Kathy’s diagnosis with multiple myeloma. The
mission of the MMRF is to relentlessly pursue innovative means that
accelerate the development of next-generation multiple myeloma
treatments to extend the lives of patients and lead to a cure. As the
world’s number-one private funder of multiple myeloma research, the MMRF
has raised over $200 million since its inception and directs 90% of
total budget to research and related programming. As a result, the MMRF
has been awarded Charity Navigator’s coveted four-star rating for nine
consecutive years, the highest designation for outstanding fiscal
responsibility and exceptional efficiency. For more information about
the MMRF, please visit www.themmrf.org.

About the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium

The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) is a 509(a)3 non-profit
organization that integrates leading academic institutions to accelerate
drug development in multiple myeloma. It is led from MMRC offices in
Norwalk, Conn., and comprises 16 member institutions: Barbara Ann
Karmanos Cancer Institute, Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at
Dallas, City of Hope, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Emory University's
Winship Cancer Institute, the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack
University Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, Mount Sinai School of Medicine,
Ohio State University, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, University
Health Network (Princess Margaret Hospital), University of
California-San Francisco, University of Chicago, University of Michigan,
Virginia Cancer Specialists, and Washington University in St. Louis.

The MMRC is the only consortium to join academic institutions through
membership agreements, customized IT systems, and an integrated tissue
bank. For more information, please visit www.themmrc.org.

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